Six men have been charged with a string of offences including hare coursing, assaults and dangerous driving.
Samuel and Colin Stewart, whose addresses were given as Clinterty Caravan Park, Kinellar, appeared at Aberdeen sheriff court yesterday.
The pair, aged 39 and 18, are accused of being involved in 13 hare coursing crimes in the Huntly, Rothienorman, Fyvie, Alford, Insch, Turriff, St Katherines, Laurencekirk and Inverbervie between March 2016 and last week.
Samuel Stewart has also been charged with behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, dangerous driving and damaging another person’s vehicle along with Colin Stewart, who also faces three separate assault charges including wrapping a dog chain around someone’s neck.
Meanwhile, 41-year-old Steven Booth, whose address was given as Middlefield Place, Aberdeen, has also been accused of hare coursing, dangerous driving and two charges of failing to tell police who was driving a car that was believed to have been involved in a crime.
Edward McParland, whose address was given as Findhorn Place, Aberdeen, is alleged to have been involved in hare coursing and faces three assault charges alongside Samuel Stewart.
While Joseph Lindsay, 76, has been charged in connection with hare coursing.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also accused of being involved in the wildlife crimes and assaults.
All six deny the charges against them and were released on bail.
As part of their bail conditions, none of them is allowed to be in charge of a dog out with 656ft of their homes.
They are due to go on trial in July.
